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NASCAR Sprint-Cup Series
ALL-STAR: 1987 Race Earns No. 1 Spot In History
The 1987 Sprint All-Star Race was voted the best in the 25-year history of the event...
Media Release  |  Posted May 20, 2010   Huntersville, NC
Dale Earnhardt drove the No. 3 Wrangler-sponsored Chevrolet to his first All-Star victory in 1987. (Photo: Motorsports Images and Archives)
As anticipation builds for this weekend’s 26th running of the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race at Charlotte Motor Speedway, Sprint on Thursday revealed the No. 1 “Most Memorable NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race Event” as chosen by members of the National Motorsports Press Association (NMPA).

The top spot in the countdown goes to the 1987 NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race, which featured a fierce battle between two NASCAR champions: the late Dale Earnhardt and Bill Elliott.

After dominating the previous year’s NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race at Atlanta Motor Speedway, Elliott was looking to repeat the feat when the prestigious event returned to Charlotte Motor Speedway in 1987. Elliott won the first two segments, which put him out front for the final 10-lap “dash for the cash.”

With seven laps remaining, Earnhardt’s No. 3 Chevy traded paint with Elliott’s No. 9 Ford, sending Earnhardt off-track into the infield grass. In a thrilling display of driving skill, Earnhardt maintained control of his car and retained the lead as he drove back onto the asphalt.

While this bit of on-track action has become known as “the pass in the grass,” the name is misleading, as Earnhardt was ahead of Elliott the entire time, so no actual “pass” occurred.
Bill Elliott can use a past champion’s provisional if he needs one at Michigan. (Photo: LAT Photographic)

From there, Elliott was unable to mount a charge on Earnhardt, and the man known as “The Intimidator” went on to claim the win in the third running of the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race.

Elliott showed his frustration by bumping Earnhardt on the cool down lap, and the two drivers’ crews exchanged heated words on pit road. Some 23 years later, Elliott’s perspective on the race has mellowed.

“You look back on it and its all fun and games,” said Elliott. “Nowadays, I don’t lose sleep over it. I see [the clip] from time to time and I chuckle. Dale and I had our run-ins. I always said he was the smartest guy I knew. He knew how to play NASCAR and the media and he knew how to take care of the fans. He was brilliant at it.”

Richard Childress, president and CEO of Richard Childress Racing, owned the legendary No. 3 Chevy that Earnhardt drove to six of his seven NASCAR championships. Even for a man who was part of many of Earnhardt’s greatest successes, what Childress saw during the 1987 NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race is still special.

"The 'Pass in the Grass' was one of the most memorable moves of Dale's legendary career," said Childress. "It still amazes me that he was able to hang onto the car and go on to win the race. Dale and Bill (Elliott) had a pretty good rivalry back then and the 'Pass in the Grass' only made that rivalry better. It was also a classic Chevy vs. Ford battle. It's great that the NMPA voted it to be the most memorable Sprint All-Star Race."

Most Memorable Moments in NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race History:

Rank/Moment/Year
No. 1: “Pass in the Grass” – Earnhardt beats Elliott (1987)
No. 2: “One Hot Night” – Davey Allison edges Kyle Petty (1992)
No. 3: “The Tide Slide” – Rusty Wallace spins Darrell Waltrip (1989)
No. 4: Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s Rookie-Season Win (2000)
No. 5: Jeff Gordon’s Third NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race Win (2001)

2010 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series All-Star Week • The Stars Come Out. The Gloves Come Off. • Saturday, May 22nd at 7 pm ET
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